Battle begins to lure Civil War tourists to Chattanooga

CHICKAMAUGA, GA. (Times Free Press) -- With this year's and next year's 150th anniversary of the Civil War actions near and in Chattanooga, the new battle is one for history-vacation dollars.

As the Civil War sesquicentennial swings into high gear, park and tourism officials hope for record numbers of visitors at the nation's oldest Civil War military park -- the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Superintendent Cathy Cook says it just might be possible, judging from last year's 1,026,699 visitors.

"The last time we had hit over a million visitors was 1998," Cook said.

Even as recession slowed travel and recreation in recent years, a new National Park Service report shows that in 2010 the park had just under a million visitors, who spent $49.3 million at the park and in communities nearby.

(Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP). FBI agents meet at the scene of an explosion in Austin, Texas, Sunday, March 18, 2018. At least a few people were injured in another explosion in Texas' capital late Sunday, after three package bombs deto...

Police have warned residents near the site of the latest explosion in Austin to remain indoors and to call 911 if they need to leave home before 10 a.m.More

Police have warned residents near the site of the latest explosion in Austin to remain indoors and to call 911 if they need to leave home before 10 a.m.More